Molding-machine.



E. A. PRIDMORE.

MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED 001226, 1912.

Patented July 7, 1914;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Jdwardfl Bz'dm are,

THIS NORRIS PETERS CO, PHOTO-LITHO. WASHINGTON, Dv C.

E. A. PBIDMORE.

MOLDING MACHINE.

APBLIOATION FILED 00w. 2B, 1912.

Patented July 7, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W, m w m Edward 725282720223,

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHUTO-LITHO. WASHINGTON, D. C.

E. A. PRIDMORE.

MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001 26, 1912.

Patented July 7, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THE NORRIS PETERS (Tl). PHO'I'O-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, D C

' position.

EDWARD A. PRIDMORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOLDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '7, 1914.

Application filed October 26, 1912. Serial No. 727,857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. PRIDMORE, a citizen of the United States,residin .at Chicago, in the county of Cook and tate of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Molding Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates, more particularly, to flask-receiving andsupporting means commonly provided in molding machines for receiving therammed flask and supporting the same in the pattern-drawing operation,my present invention, having been devised for use, more particularly, inconnection with molding machines of the type employing a turn-overpattern and flask-carrier, which latter is adapted, when in one tosupport the flask and pattern during the ramming operation, turned overto the other position operates to invert the flask and deliver it to asupport preparatory to the pattern-drawing operation.

My object, generally stated, is to provide a novel and simpleflask-receiving and supporting device which, when the flask is movedinto engagement therewith, shall operate automatically to adjust itselfto the flask employed, and which may be readily and quickly secured inautomatically adjusted position for insuring the continuance of thecorrect relative positions of the flask and flask-carrier during thedrawing of the pattern and be released'from such position, as desired.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view in sideelevation, partly sectional, of a molding machine constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is asection taken at the line 2 onFig. 5 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, this view showing themachine invthe position it assumes during the pattern-drawing operation.Fig. 3 is a detail of the flask-clamp employed with its intermediatecross-brace and threaded rod therein omitted. Fig. 4: is a section takenat the line 4 on Fig. 8 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5is an end view of the machine. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken atthe line (i on Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; and Fig.7 a section taken at the line 7 on Fig. 6, and viewed in the directionof the arrow.

The machine in connection with which I have chosen to illustrate mypresent invenand when tion is of the type illustrated and described inmy said pending application and consists generally of a pattern andflask carrier journa-led on the machine to be swung throughapproximately an arc of 180", the carrier, when in one position, beingadapted to receive a flask which, in practice, would be set over thepattern, and while in such position be rammed to form the mold and thecarrier-flask and bottom board thereupon secured together, and whenrocked from said position to its other position, to invert the flask anddeliver it to a flask-support, whereupon the pattern is lifted bodilyout of the mold.

The frame of the machine illustrated, which forms the support for theoperating parts thereof as hereinafter described, is represented at 10and is shown as supported on three wheels 11 and 12 for facilitating theshifting of the machine from one place to another, the wheels 11 beinglocated at one end of the frame and the wheel 12 at the other endthereof. The frame 10, at its opposite sides and intermediate the wheels11 and 12, is provided with a pair of vertically-disposed guide-posts 13containing vertical, preferably lined, bores 14, which form guides forreciprocable rods 15 slidably confined in said bores. The upper ends ofthe rods 15 are provided with enlarged heads 16 which serve as stopsforlimiting the downward movement of the rods in the posts 13, theseheads being connected together by a shaft 17 journaled therein at itsopposite ends. Rigidly connected with the shaft 17 is a pattern andflask-carrier 18 formed of a table-section 19, which, in the position ofthe machine represented in Fig. 1, rests against a stop 20 on the frame10, and arms 21 rigid with the section 19 and extending upwardly from aside of the latter and rigidly connected at their upper ends with theshaft 17, whereby the carrier 18 is marginally hinged to the upper endsof the rods 15 to permit the carrier to be swung upon these rods for thepurpose hereinafter described. The heads 16 are provided on their innersides with stub-shafts 22 upon which depending links 23 are pivoted attheir up per ends, the lower ends of these links being provided withlaterally projecting stubshafts 24 at which these links are pivotallyconnected with the forward ends of spaced levers 25 rigid with a sleeve26 journaleol on a shaft 27 fixed in opposite sides of the ed in Fig. 1.

frame The'stub-shafts 24 extend beyond the levers 25 and form. pivotalconnections for the lower ends of coiled springs 28, the upper ends ofthese springs being secured to lugs 29 rigid with the arms 21'of thecarrier 18, but preferably diametrically op-' posed thereto, the springs28 being so ten-' sioned that when the carrier 18 is in the positionrepresented in Fig. 1, they will be under sufficient tension tosubstantially counterbalance the carrier when loaded, whereby the loadedcarrler may be readily ndltion, for.

swung by hand to inverted co as that represented at 30 and connectedwiththe carrier, is in inverted condition. The pattern 30 is preferablysecured to boards 31 and the latter to the section l9'of the carrier .tohold these parts rigid, as by means of screws 31*. To make a mold fromthe pattern 30, a flask such as that represented at 32 is placed 'overthe pattern and seated against the uppermost board 31. The molding sandis then rammed into theflask according to the usual practicev of makingmolds, and the bottom board 33 is. then placed over the upper end of theflask.

After preparing the mold asdescribed, the flask 32 and bottom board 33are rigidly clamped to the carrier 18 in the positions illustrated inFig. 2, by means of clamping mechanism, a description of the preferredembodiment of which is as follows: The

clamp-proper, which is represented at 34, is

formed of a pair of spaced rods35 of U- shape, which are braced asindicated at 36 and 37, the brace 37 containing a threaded opening 38 inwhich an adjusting screw 39 operates. The rods 35 at one end areconnected together byjan integral loop-section 35*, and at theiropposite ends each'is provided with a head 40 formed into the hook 41and equipped witha guide-lug 41 The clamp 34 releasably engages at itshooks 41 j with the shaft 17 and extends across the upper end of theflask, the head 42 on the clamping-screw 39 hearing against the topsurface of the bottom board 33 as represent- The clamp 34 is releasablyheld in position for clamping the flask 32 and. bottom board 33 to thecarrier 18 through the medium of a link 43 which is bifurcated atitsupper end to present arms 44 and is pivoted at its lower end to thecarrier 18 beyond the flask as indicated at 45, the link 43 beingadapted to interlock at the offset portions 46 of the arms 44 with the.section 35 of the clamp 34.; In order that the clamp 34 may bereleasably interlocked with the link43 as stated and released therefromas desired, I provide a lever 47 which is located between the offsetportions 46 of the arms 44 and is pivoted on a shaft 48 secured inthesearms. The lever 47 is provided with lugs 49 and 50 which extendbeyond its pivotal connection with the link 43 and through the medium ofwhich lugs the lever 47 serves to either spring the strap-section '35the clamp 34 into interlocking engage- -ment with the offset portions 46of the arms 44 or disengage it therefrom depending upon the direction inwhich the lever 47 is operated, the under surfaces of the oflsetportions 46 of the arms 44 being preferably slightly concaved, asrepresented at 51, in order that the clamp 34 maybe held in interlockingengagement with the link 43 against accidental release. In the preferredconstruction illustrated, the lever 47 merely operates to either springthe strap-section 35 into interlocking engagement with the link 43, ordisengage it therefrom, and does not assist in the holding operation.The screw 39 should be so adjusted in the brace 37 that when the clamp'34 is interlocked with the link 43 as stated, the rods 35 will be placedunder relatively great tension for holding the bottom board 33'rigid onthe flask 32 and thelatter against shifting relative to the board 31 andpattern 30. v

After the flask and the bottom board have been clamped'to the carrier 18as stated, the operator swings the loaded carrier to the right in Fig. 1through one-half of a revolution to a position in which lugs 52 on thecarrier 1'8 abut against stop-lugs 52 carried by the heads 16, the stops53 serving "to support the carrier 18 and the parts carried thereby.

' In swinging the carrier at, its hinge-connection with the rods 15 asstated, the pat tern 30 and flask 32 are moved from -in-' verted touprightcondition, and the latter is delivered to flask-supportsv 54,construct:

ed in accordance with my invention, .for

sustaining the flask duringv the patterndrawmg, operation,

a description of the preferred form in which said flask-supports areprovided being as follows: the frame 10 at its opposite sides arescrewstandards 55 which are rendered adjustable up. and down by reasonof their threaded engagement with the framelO, lock-nuts 56 screwingupon these standards serving to maintain the latter in adjustedposition.- Each of the standards 55 carries, at its upper end, aflask-supporting device 57, each of said devices being formed of acasing 58 open atopposite ends thereof and into socketc 59 in the lowerends of which the upper ends of the respective standards 55 extend, thecasings v58 being rigidly connected with these standards as through themedium of pins 60. Pivoted on shafts 61 hired in opposite sides of eachcasing 58 and adjacent to its opposite ends are rock-levers 62, theouter Screwing into ends 63 of which, under the action of leafsprings 64partially surrounding bosses 65 on the levers 62 and engaging at theirfree ends with the under sides of the tops of the casings 58 and withpins 66 on the inner ends of these levers, normally extend in theupwardly-inclined position represented in Fig. 1, in which they projectabove the easing 58. The inner ends of the levers 62 are of segmentalform, and co6perating with the arc-shaped surfaces 67 thereof are shoes68 which are pivoted at their lower ends on bolts 69 secured in opposedwalls of the casings, these shoes presenting arcshaped surfaces 70extending adjacent to the surfaces 67 of the levers 62. Pivoted on pins71 fixed in the walls ofextensions 72 of the casings 58 are rock-members73 which extend transversely of the adjacent shoes 68 and the opposedside-walls of which converge upwardly as represented at 74, whereby themembers 73 are rendered wedgeshape in cross-section the portions of theshoes 68 adjacent to the members 73 being provided with lugs 75presenting upwardlyconverging surfaces 76 which oppose ;the surfaces 74on the members 73, whereby when the latter are rocked upwardly on theirpivots 71, as hereinafter described, they will force the respectiveshoes 68 into rigid clamping engagement with the levers 62 and hold thelatter against turning on their pivots 61. The levers 77, which arepivoted on the casings 58 as indicated at 78 and are pivotallyconnected, as indicated at 79, beyond the pivots 78 toupwardly-extending links 80 having pivotal connection at their upperends with the outer ends of the members 73 as indicated at 81, operateas the medium through which the rock-members 73 are operated for thepurpose stated.

As the carrier 18 nears the limit of its turning movement, ashereinbefore described, the bottom board 33 engages with the upper ends63 of the levers 62, and in coming to rest against the stops 53 swingsthe levers, 62 downwardly against the action of the springs 64 to apoint at which these levers become automatically adjusted to theposition assumed by the bottom board 33. The operator thereupon swingsthe levers 77 downwardly, thereby swinging the members 73 upwardly andby reason of the wedging action produced against the shoes 68, forcingthe latter into clamping engagement with the levers 62, thus locking thelatter in rigid condition for securely supporting the flask 32 when thelatter is released from the carrier as hereinafter set forth. After thelevers 62 have been set in the positions automatically assumed by themas stated, the operator releases the clamp 34 from engagement with thelink 43 by swinging the operating lever 47 to a position in which thelug 50 engages with the strap-section 35 of the clamp and springs it outof interlocking engagement with the offset portions of the arms 44. Theclamp 34 thus released, swings at its hook-portions 41 upon the shaft17, its brace-bar 36 automatically entering the space between the upperand lower arms 82 and 83 respectively of a fork-member 84 secured to theframe 10, and its opposite free end resting on the frame as indicated inFig. 2, the hook-portions 41 of the clamp 34, when the latter assumesthe position just stated, being withdrawn to aposition in which theyextend out of the path of upward movement of the shaft 17 as representedin Fig. 2, whereby the shaft 17 and the parts carried thereby may beraised for the purpose hereinafter described, without disturbing theposition assumed by the clamp-bar 34 as represented in the last referredto figure. The lugs 41 by extending in the rear of the shaft 17 operate,upon the release of the clamp 34, as stated, to insure the positioningof the latter as explained. The flask having been thus transferred fromthe carrier 18 to the flasksupports 54, the next operation is that ofwithdrawing the pattern 30 from the mold,

and this is accomplished by bodily raising the rods 15, and all of theparts carried thereby, through the medium of a foot-lever 85 which isrigidly connected with the sleeve 26 and when depressed operatesto swingthe levers 25 upwardly, and through the medium of the links 23, elevatethe rods 15, springs 28 and carrier 18 to a position in which thepattern 30 is drawn from the mold as represented in Fig. 2, the rods 15in this operation moving in the posts 13 for guidance. To minimize thepower required for elevating the carrier 18 as described, I provide acoiled spring 86 which is secured at one end to the frame of the machineand at its opposite end to a depending lug 87 on the sleeve 26. It willbe noted that in the pattern-drawing operation described,the pattern ismoved in a path at a right-angle to the mold which insures the patternbeing withdrawn from the latter without impairing the mold.

The springs 28 are preferably so tensioned that they tend to swing thecarrier 18 and the pattern 30 to raised position when the mold isreleased therefrom as described, in which. case the operator bears downon the carrier for maintaining the lugs 52 in engagement with the stops53 during the operation of bodily raising the carrier and its supportsas hereinbefore described. Thus, as soon as the rods 15 have been raisedsufficiently far to draw the pattern from the mold, the operatorreleases his grasp on the carrier and permits the latter to swingupwardly. The operator thereupon. removes the pressure from thefoot-lever 85, permitting the rods 15 and the parts carried thereby todescend. The mold is then removed from the flask-"supports 5'4 and thecarrier 18 swung back to the normal position repreby the operatorgrasping the free end of the clamp and lifting it, thereby causing thehooks to be automatically projected over the shaft 17 and swinging uponthis shaft as a pivot. It will be understood that preparatory to eachoperation of delivering a filled flask to the flaslesupports 54 asdescribed,

the rock-levers 62 are released to permit. them to assume normalconditlon, namely,

that illustrated in Fig. 1, by operating the levers 7 7 reversely tothat hereinbefore dej a I q members fulcrumed thereon to rock up and Inorder to avoid any danger of impairment to the machine should thecarrier 18 scribed.

be swung overthe center of its axis when moved from the position inwhich it extends-- over the supports 54, I provide stops, 88 on thecarrier whlch cooperate with the heads 16 and limit the movement of thecarrier.

Through the medium of thescrew-standards 55 the supports 54 may beraised or lowered as desired to adjust the machine for use with flasksof varying heights.

It will be observed that in the construc-' tion illustrated two, of theflask-engaging fingers 62 are provided at each side ofthe machine, thusaffording a support for the flask at four different points, and thatonly" two levers are required to be-operated for setting and releasingthe four fingers 62, this feature of my machine beingof impor: tance asbut one-half the time is required in' my construction for setting andreleasing the flask-supporting fingers as compared with the timerequired for operating the devices employed for this purpose in priorconstructions.

In carrying out my invention I prefer to provide springs, as described,for cooperation with the levers 62 to hold them yieldingly in raisedcondition under spring-ten sion, but it will be manifest to thoseskilled in the art that in the illustrated embodiment of my inventionthese springs may be omitted, if desired, and the unbalanced weight ofthe levers 62 tending to move them to a position in which an end of eachthereof is raised, be relied upon to hold said levers yieldingly inraised condition.

The features herein shown and not claimed are included in my applicationSerial No. 631,292, filed June 5, 1911, patent ed May 21, 1912, No.1,027,066.

WVhile I have illustrated and described the of independently adjustablemembers fulcrumed thereon to rock up and form of flask receiving andsupporting device which I now consider to be the preferred form in whichmy invention may be embodied, and a modification thereof, I do not wishto be understood as intending tov limit my invention to-suc'h forms, asvarlous changes and alterations may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit of my invention. 1 Furthermore, by. illustrating anddescribing my improved flask-receiving and supporting devicein'connection with a particular type of turn-over pattern and flaskcarrier, 1 do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it to itsuse in this connection,"it being my desire to claim it for use inanysituation in which it may have utility.

What I'claim as new, and desire to secure by LettersPate'nt, i's r 1. Ina flask-receivingand supporting device, the combination of a base, aplurality of independently adjustable flask-engaging down and eachadapted to contact-at one end only with a flask seating thereon, andmeans for holding said members in independently adjusted positions.

2. Flask-receiving and supporting means comprisingin combination a base,a plural ity of flask-engaging members fulcrumed thereon to rock up anddown and each adapted to contact at one end only with a flask restingthereon, and means for yieldingly holding said members in raisedposition. j

3. Flask-receiving and supporting means comprising in combination abase, a plurality of 'flaslr-engaging members fulcrumed thereon to rockup and down and each adapted to contact at one end only with a flaskresting thereon, and springs for yieldingly holding said members inraised position. I

4. Flask-receiving and supporting means comprising, in combination, abase, a plurality of yieldable flask-engaging members fulcrumed thereonto rock up and down,

and means for releasably securing said members in the positions to whichthey are automatically moved when engaged by the flask.

5. In a flask-receivingand supporting device, the combination of a base,a plurality flask-engaging down and each adapted to contact at one endonly with a flask se'atingthereon, and means for lifting theflask-engaging ends of said members and yieldingly-holding them inraised condition,

6. In a flask-receiving and supporting device, the combination of abase, aplurality of independently adjust-able flask-engaging membersfulcrumed thereon to rock up and end only with a flask seating thereon,and

* down and each adapted to contact at one,-

springs for raising the flasleengaging ends of said members andyieldingly holding them in raised condition.

7. In a flask-receiving and supporting device, the combination of abase, a plurality of independently adjustable flask-engaging membersfulcrumed thereon to rock up and down and each adapted to contact at oneend only with a flask seating thereon, means for lifting theflask-engaging ends of said members and yieldingly holding them inraised condition, and means for securing said members in the positionsto which they are moved when engaged by the flask.

8. In a flask-receiving and supporting device, the combination of abase, a plurality of independently adjustable flask-engaging membersfulcrumed thereon to rock up and down and each adapted to contact at oneend only with a flask seating thereon, springs for raising theflask-engaging ends of said members and yieldingly holding them inraised condition, and means for securing said members in the positionsto which they are moved when engaged by the flask.

9. Flask-receiving and supporting means comprising, in combination, abase, a plurality of flask-engaging members .fulcrumed thereon to rockup and down, means for yieldingly holding said members in raisedposition, and means for releasably securing said members in thepositions to which they are automatically moved when engaged by theflask.

10. Flask-receiving and supporting means comprising, in combination, abase, a plurality of flask-engaging members fulcrumed thereon to rock upand down, means for yieldingly holding said members in raised position,and means for releasably securing said members in the positions to whichthey are automatically moved when engaged by the flask.

11. Flask-receiving and supporting means comprising, in combination, abase, a plurality of flask-engaging members fulcrumed on said base torock up and down thereon, means tending to yieldingly hold said membersin raised position, and brake mechanism for releasably securing saidmembers in the positions to which they are moved when engaged by theflask.

12. Flask-receiving and supporting means comprising, in combination, abase, a plurality of flask-engaging members fulcrumed on said base torock up and down thereon,

'means tending to yieldingly hold said members in raised position, andbrake mechanism for releasably securing said members in the positions towhich they are moved when engaged by the flask.

13. In a molding-machine, flask-receiving and supporting meanscomprising, in combination, a plurality of pivotally supportedflask-receiving and supporting members,

means for yieldingly holding said members in raised position, pivotallysupported brake-levers cooperating with said members, and a rock-memberfor operating said brake levers, for the purpose set forth.

14:. In a molding-machine, flask-receiving and supporting meanscomprising, in combination, pivotally supported flask-receiving andsupporting members, means for yieldingly holding said members in raisedposition, pivotally-supported brakelevers cooperating with said members,and wedging mechanism for operating said brake-levers, for the purposeset forth.

15. Flask-receiving and supporting means comprising, in combination, abase, pairs of flask-engaging members fulcrumed on said base to rock upand down thereon and normally extending in raised position, and a singledevice for each pair of said members for releasably securing the latterin the positions to which they are moved when engaged by the flask.

16. Flask-receiving and supporting means comprising, in combination, abase, pairs of flask-engaging members fulcrumed on said base to rock upand down thereon, means for yieldingly holding said members in raisedposition, and a single device for each pair of said members forreleasably securing the latter in the positions to which they are movedwhen engaged by the flask.

17. Flask-receiving and supporting means comprising, in combmation, abase, pairs of flask-engaging members fulcrumed on said base to rock upand down thereon and normally extending in raised position, and a singledevice operating by frictional contact with said members to releasablyhold the latter in the positions to which they are moved when engaged bythe flask.

18. In a flask-receiving and supporting device, the combination of abase, pairs of independently adjustable flask engaging members fulcrumedon said base to rock up and down thereon and each adapted to contact atone end only with the flask, and a single device for each pair of saidmembers for releasably securing the latter in independently adjustedpositions.

19. In a molding-machine, flask-receiving and supporting meanscomprising, in combi nation, pairs of pivotally supported flaskreceivingand supporting members, means for yieldingly holding said members inraised position, pivotally-supported brakelevers located adjacent tosaid members, and means cooperating with each pair of brakelevers foroperating the latter, for releas ably securing said members inautomatically adjusted position, for the purpose set forth.

20. In a molding-machine, flask-receiving and supporting meanscomprising, in combination, flask-receiving and supporting memberspivotally supported between their ends,

surfaces cooperating with the curved SUP-- faces'of said members, andmeans for oper atlng said levers, for the purpose set forth.

21. In a molding-machine, flask-receiving; l

and supporting means comprising, in combi nation, flask-receiving andsupporting mem-v bers pivo-tally supported between their ends, means foryieldingly holding said members: at their upper ends in raised position,brake-. levers pivoted on the machine adjacent to the lower ends of saidmembers, wedging members pivotally connected with the machine andlocated between pairs of said brake-levers, and means for actuatingsaid; wedgi'ng-members, for the purpose set forth,

22; In a molding-machine, flask-receiving} and supporting meanscomprising a plurality of members pivotally supported in unbalancedcondition and'means for releasably securing said members in thepositions tor j which they are automatically moved when engaged by theflask, for the purpose set forth. I i 1 T porting members,

brake-levers, for the purpose set 23. In a molding-machine,flask-receiving balanced condition and bral'ze-mechanism' for releasablysecuringsald members 1n the positions to which they are moved when engaged by the flask. I

24. Flask-receivingfand supporting means comprising in combination, aplurality of 'yieldable pivotally supported flask-receiving andsupporting members, pivotally supported 'brake levers cooperatingwith-said members, and a rock member for operating said brake-levers,for the purpose set forth.

25. Flask-receiving and supporting means ported yield'ableflaslpreceiving an supand wedging mechanism for operating said forth;EDWARD A; PRIDMORE. In presence of O G. AvIsUs, NELLIE B. DEARBORN.

Copies of this patentmay be obtained for five cents each, by agidressjngthe Commissioner 01'. Batents,

. Washi gt 1 -0 pivotally supported. 4 brake-levers cooperating with,said, members,

comprising in combination, pivotallv sup-

